Ruben Castaneda of the WASHINGTON POST reports that a Prince George’s County grand jury indicted Delonte West on six weapons offenses Tuesday stemming from a September incident in which he was arrested “on the Capital Beltway with three loaded guns and an 8 1/2-inch bowie knife.”.

26-year-old West is also charged with reckless and negligent driving.

While all charges are misdemeanors, that doesn’t mean that West won’t suffer the same fate as Plaxico Burress.

Castaneda:

Prince George’s prosecutors routinely seek jail time for people convicted of weapons charges, even first-time offenders. State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said West’s case will be handled no differently than any other.

The NBA has yet to respond to the charges.

West, who twice missed time during training camp because of bipolar disorder, last week had a domestic violence charged slapped on him by his wife.

More details on West’s original arrest:

The weapons charges stem from a Sept. 17 incident in which West was traveling north on the Beltway about 10 p.m. in a three-wheeled motorcycle called a Can-Am Spyder when he allegedly cut off a county police officer near Route 214.

The officer pulled West over for making an unsafe lane change, and as the officer approached the motorcycle, West told him he had a handgun in his waistband.

The officer called for backup and searched West and his vehicle.

Three guns were found — a 9mm Beretta in West’s waistband, a Ruger .357 Magnum strapped to his leg, and a 12-gauge shotgun in a guitar case slung over his back, authorities said.

West also had additional shotgun shells in a backpack, authorities said.

West played his first game for the Cavs last Saturday, scoring 13 points in a win over Charlotte. Obviously he’s an important part of the team if the Cavaliers continue to keep him on the roster through all of his off-court distractions. But with the charges he’s facing, including the domestic violence report filed against him, aren’t we to the point where the Cavaliers need to consider jettisoning him from the team?

With his mental state, would you feel comfortable in the locker room and on the team plane with the guy? I wouldn’t.

He needs to step away from basketball and get his life together. Some will say that basketball is what is keep his life together. But based on what he’s done off-court in the past two months, how much worse can it get?

This entry was posted
on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm and is filed under Brog, NBA, Police Blotter .
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